In some advanced countries, it is not unusual for more than 50% of young adults to attend college or university. Critics, however, claim that many university courses are worthless and young people would be better off gaining skills in the workplace. In this essay, I will examine both sides of this argument and try to reach a conclusion.
There are several reasons why young people today believe they have the right to a university education. First, growing prosperity in many parts of the world has increased the number of families with money to invest in their children’s future. At the same time, falling birth-rates mean that one- or two-child families have become common, increasing the level of investment in each child. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that young people are willing to let their families support them until the age of 21 or 22. Furthermore, millions of new jobs have been created in knowledge industries, and these jobs are typically open only to university graduates.
In
some
advanced countries, it is not unusual for more than 50% of
young
adults to attend college or
university
. Critics,
however
, claim that
many
university
courses are worthless and
young
people
would be better off gaining
skills
in the workplace. In this essay, I will examine both sides of this argument and try to reach a conclusion.
There are several reasons why
young
people
today
believe they have the right to a
university
education.
First
, growing prosperity in
many
parts of the world has increased the number of families with money to invest in their children’s future. At the same time, falling birth-rates mean that one- or two-child families have become common, increasing the level of investment in each child. It is hardly surprising,
therefore
, that
young
people
are willing to
let
their families support them until the age of 21 or 22.
Furthermore
, millions of new jobs have
been created
in knowledge industries, and these jobs are
typically
open
only
to
university
graduates.